Chapter 11

John and Clara emerged into their house, returning from the hospital, arms slung around each other. Throughout the ride home, John looked completely different outside, he would throw his hoodie over his head and hang it down, as if his face was a horrifying sight to see. Now, they were standing in the doorway, John looking around. He sighed as a wave of memories hit him.

"Never thought I would see this place again," John said.

"Neither would I," Clara smiled.

John limped over to the couch, sat down, removed his hoodie from his head, and took another look around the place.

"Have you got this place redecorated?" John asked.

"Yeah. Do you like it?"

"No, not really," John replied, still looking around.

Clara felt her heart falter a little, as she loved the redecoration, and worked hard on it herself. John should be appreciative of the fact that he was finally home, and not be so antagonizing. But at the same time, she had to be supportive, of the fact that John was suffering, after spending seven years on the run, living in fear, for her and Oswin's benefit. She faked a mock scowl and sat down next to him and checked her watch to see that it was almost time to pick Oswin up from school.

"Oh, Oswin just got let out from school," Clara said.

"So she's coming home?" John asked.

"Um, yeah," Clara said, chuckling.

"I know it's a stupid question, but I'm bound to meet her, and I'm just anxious," John said, wiggling his legs, whenever he's nervous about something.

"John, don't be anxious," Clara replied, grasping John's hand and squeezing it. "You know that picture we took on our fifth anniversary?"

"Yeah, what about it?" he asked in gloom.

"Oswin found it when she was five. It was Father's day. And ever since then, she couldn't stop looking at it, she looked at it because of you, she said you were the most handsome man she ever saw, so I gave it to her to keep."

"OK, so what's that got to do with anything?"

"Oswin would always ask me where you were, eventually I told her you were dead, and she was devastated, but think about it... she'll be the happiest girl on earth when she finds out you're alive and well, and she always imagine what it would be like to meet you," Clara replied.

"I guess you're right... but what if she's-" John started, until Clara cut him off.

"John, she's too young to be upset with you, she'll know and understand when she gets older." she said sharply.

John sighed and said, "Oh, all right."

"John, why do you wish the worst for yourself?"

"Honestly, I just don't know."

"Well, then quit doing that," she said as she gave him a quick kiss on his lips, and got up from the couch.

"I'm going to go get her now."

"All right, I'll just stay put here, as if I have a choice," John sighed.

Clara smiled as she went out the door. As she drove to the school, she let her mind run wild on how it would be like when Oswin first meets John. But at the same, would he behave the same way he did with her to Oswin? With that thought, she immediately felt anxious. She pulled up in front of the school, and there was Oswin, talking with her friends. Her eyes darted to Clara inside the car. Clara smiled and waved to Oswin, gesturing for her to come over. Oswin grinned and said goodbye to her friends and went over to the car and got in.

"Hi, Mum," Oswin greeted brightly as she fastened her seatbelt.

"Hi, sweetheart, how's school?" Clara asked.

"Good, we had an assembly today, it was so much fun, year 6 put on a show about cultural stuff, and they danced to music from different countries," Oswin replied.

"That sounds like a lot of fun," Clara smiled, heart warmed over Oswin, over the moon happy about her assembly. "Oswin, when we get to the house, there's someone I'd like you to meet."

"Who?" Oswin questioned.

"It's a surprise," Clara replied.

"A surprise? I love surprises," Oswin said, with that same charming smile, reminding Clara of John's smile.

Clara smiled and called the house to inform John that she was almost in front of the house and to stand by the stairs. Oswin was squirming with delight over the fact that she was going to be surprised. Surprised by her father, the person she always wanted to meet, waiting for her.


John sat on the stairs, his palms sweaty, his stomach in pain from the tense situation. John still had his doubts about Oswin. He knew Oswin wasn't stupid, after all, she did skip a grade. Oswin would jump to conclusions and think that he didn't love her. Then realizing what he was actually thinking about, he shook it off and told himself mentally, that everything would be fine, and herald what Clara said.

John's heart nearly shot out of him, as he heard the door open and close. His daughter was downstairs, and John couldn't stop his heart from pounding fast.

"OK, Oswin, are you ready for your surprise?" John heard Clara ask.

"Ready," the little voice replied happily. John tried hard not to burst into tears at this.

"All right, Oswin. You can come down now," Clara called to John.

John took a deep breath. There was no turning back now. He slowly went down the stairs. As soon as he laid his eyes on Oswin, he thought he was going turn into a hot mess. He was in front of this angelic creature, that creature being his daughter. Her face was a perfect mixture between him and Clara, and had the most beautiful long hair. It was too much to take in. John crouched to Oswin's level and choked out,

"Hello, Oswin."

"Hello," Oswin replied.

"My name's John," John said, his voice trembling.

"John... is your last name Smythe? 'Cause that's my dead daddy's name," Oswin said.

John resisted the urge to fight back tears. "Yes, that's my last name," he replied.

Oswin looked at John for a minute, probably in disbelief, not long before she took her bag off her back and took out a picture, maybe that picture that Clara was talking about. She looked at the picture and back up at John, until she did so repeatedly. Finally, the girl whispered with a surprised smile,

"Daddy?"

And then that was it, tears welled in John's eyes.

"Hi, sweetheart," John greeted through tears.

"Daddy, it's really you!" Oswin squealed, rushing over to John and throwing her small arms around his neck into a hug. John responded fiercely, lifting Oswin up from the floor, and hugging her tight like no other, as tears escaped his eyes like a waterfall, while holding back his sobs. He glanced at Clara, and she too had tears streaming down her face, while smiling.

"You know, I think I need a hug," Clara said, coming over and joining in the hug.

After a while, they let go of each other, John setting Oswin on the floor, and crouching to her level.

"But Daddy, how are you alive? Mum told me you died," Oswin said.

"You know what... tell you what, baby," John began, wiping away his tears and clearing his throat.

"Let's just that a few bad people took me away from your mum, so I couldn't be here when you were little," he replied.

"But why would they do that?" Oswin asked.

John smiled. "It's quite a long story, Oswin. It'll have to wait until you get older."

"You promise?" Oswin asked.

John took both of Oswin's hands and kissed them. "I promise," he replied.

"OK, you know I'll never forget this," Oswin said.

"Neither will I," John said, with a smile, at the fact that Oswin sounded so educated and advanced.

"You know, we've got a lot of catching up to do, Daddy," Oswin said.

John breathed out a chuckle and said, "We sure do, Oswin, and I can't wait."

Oswin grinned and hugged John again, John willingly accepting it. He looked at Clara and smiled, Clara smiling back. John couldn't wait to spend time with Oswin, but he's hoping and praying that he doesn't get any headaches, or even worse, Sting finding him.


A/N: Hope you had tissues ready! *sniffs* I teared up a little while writing the reunion between John and Oswin. It was too much to take in, and I bet that it was the best day of Oswin's life, with that assembly and meeting her father for the first time. The next chapter would be full of angst, so get ready for that, and I myself can't wait to write about it, so anyways, stay tuned for the next one, and please review!